The newest crash test is being conducted by the Institute as part of its evaluation of rollover protection.

Anybody who’s bought, or is planning to buy, the new F30 3 Series Sedan will be pleased to hear it’s scored top marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests.

The car was named a “Top Safety Pick”, which continues the company’s long-standing commitment to class-leading safety.

In order to earn this accolade, a car must receive a rating of “good” (the Institute’s highest rating) in all four tests – 40mph frontal offset impact, side impact, rear impact protection/head restraint and rollover protection. The car must also be equipped an electronic stability control systeml.

The newest crash test is being conducted by the Institute as part of its evaluation of rollover protection. Rollover ratings assess roof strength in rollover crashes. To measure roof strength, a metal plate is pushed against one corner of the roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle’s weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio.

As a further safety addition, BMWs equipped with BMW Assist receive the company’s Automatic Collision Notification, which was developed in cooperation with the late Dr. Jeffrey Augenstein and the William Lehman Injury Research Center.

In the event of a collision that causes airbag deployment, BMW Assist uses data from the vehicle’s crash sensors to assess the risk of severe injury. That assessment is transmitted to the call center, along with the vehicle’s location, providing first responders with information to prepared them, potentially saving precious minutes when they arrive on an accident scene.